Raspberry production still has a lot of development potential in Peru. Viveros Andinos has been betting on this crop since 2010, testing various varieties at its facilities in Cajamarca, stated Marcos Velasquez, the general manager of the company. “The first thing we did was ask Senasa for the permits to import raspberry plants; then we brought the Heritage and Meeker varieties. The Heritage variety has performed very well in all regions: Cusco, Arequipa, Jayanca (Lambayeque) Cañete, Trujillo, Cajamarca, Huaral, etc.,” he said.
Investment
According to Velasquez, the raspberry has high productivity. "10,000 plants per hectare allow producers to obtain 6,000 to 7,000 kilos in the first year," he said. "In the second year they can get 12 to 15,000 kilos," he said. The entry of new patented varieties will increase the production and raspberry will become the country's new star crop, after the blueberry, he added.
He also said that the investment required to install this product was approximately S / 60,000 per hectare and an additional S / 20,000 to S / 30,000 in maintenance expenses. "The biggest expense is the harvest cost, which, as in blueberries, is high due to the use of clamshells."
Exports
Velasquez also stated that they had already requested Senasa the phytosanitary protocols to export to the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, and Colombia. Unfortunately, these processes have slowed down as a result of the pandemic.
"We have two commercial windows, one that coincides with blueberries, and another in the months of April and May, he said. Mexico is currently the main supplier to the United States, so I think we can work to complement that country,” he said.
Source: Arándanos Peru / agraria.pe